T

he Palembang Resort Police are investigating a recent boat explosion that killed one person and injured seven others on the Musi River in Palembang, South Sumatra recently.

The wooden boat was carrying 20 drums filled with diesel and gasoline when it exploded last Thursday.

The incident happened right after crew members filled the drums with fuel from a floating bunker fuel station (SPBB).

The explosion happened when the boat’s engine was switched on, said Palembang Water Police chief Comr. Cahyo Yudo Winarno.

“We will be conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident, but we suspect that the explosion was triggered by a spark,” Cahyo added.

The operator of the SPBB, Zulman, died in the incident. His body was found on Saturday afternoon about 2 kilometers from the site of explosion.

Meanwhile, the seven people who were injured — David Faris Sarubi, 4; Suprianto, 56; Hari, 21; Roni, 27; Herman, 35; Hendra, 34, and Joniansyah, 48 — suffered medium to severe injuries.

A spokesperson for state energy holding company Pertamina, Rifky Rahman Yusuf, said the boat did not belong to the company.